Interchangeable tooth



A. H. SMITH., INTERCHANGEABLE TOOTH. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, I918.

1,334,119. Patented Meir. 16,1920

II YEN T 0]? Miler? 52201 271;

45 describe its construction in detail, referring UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT H. smrrn, or DARBY, PENNSYLVANIA;

INTERCHANGEABLE TOOTH.

Specification of Letters Patent. t t 16, 1920,-

Application filed November 12, 1918. Serial No. 262,154.

To all whom it may com-em.

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Darby, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Interchangeable Teeth, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in an interchangeable tooth, and has for its object to provide in combination with an artificial tooth an exceedingly, simple, effective, strong and durable anchoring means whereby said tooth may be attached to a vulcanite plate or artificial palate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an artificial tooth with two parallel sockets extending from the ridge lap, each having a mouth leading rea-rwardly' to the lingual face of the tooth the mouths being of less length than the sockets and the partition between said sockets having horizontal grooves for registration with parts of an anchoring device arranged to fit in said sockets and adapted to be embedded in an artificial alate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an anchoring device or means of unique construction having a loop portion for embedding in a vulcanite plate from which project two legs each having a foot for registration with the sockets of the tooth, said legs preferably being flattened and having corrugations formed therein to co-act with the horizontal grooves or notches in the partition between the sockets.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in

which F igure 1, 1s a PBI'SSQCiLlVB-VIBW of a tooth constructed in accor ance with my lnvention.

Fig. 2, is a section at the line 2-2 of ig. 3, is a transverse section at the line Fig. 4, is a plan view or end viewof the tooth looking at the ridge lap end showing the anchoring device connected therewith.- Fig. 5, is a section at the line 55 of Fi 4. v

iig. 6, is a perspective View. of one form of anchoring device.

In carrying out my invention as embodied in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive 2 represents an artificial tooth embodying all the essential features of the ordinary artificial tooth for use with a vulcanite plate or artificial palate and includes a ridge 3, a lingual face i and an incisal edge 15.

In the body of this tooth is formed a pair of parallel longitudinal sockets 6 of any dosirable cross-section and from which lead narrow mouths or communicating transverse slots 7 and in certain of the walls "of saidslots, preferably the inside ones, or the partition 8 between the two months or slots are formed horizontal grooves or channels'S). The mouths or transverse slots leading from the sockets are preferably of less length than the latter so that portions of said sockets project beyond the closed ends of the transverse slots or mouths toward the incisal edge to produce socket extensions 10.

Constructed to fit .the pair of sockets of the tooth is an anchoring device 11, comprising a loopportion or section 12 from which project the pair of legs 13 adapted to register with the transverse slots 7, each leg having a foot 14 at its end for registration with the sockets 6. Although the anchoring device may be formed in any desirable shape, of metal having any suitable crosssection I prefer to form the same so that the loop portion or section 12 is circular in cross-section while the legs 13 are flattened throughout the major portions of their lengths and blend into the circular cross-section of the loop portion, said flattened legs having concavo-convex ribs or corrugations 15 for registration with the horizontal grooves 9 while the feet 14 are preferably circular in cross-section to fit sockets 6 with both ends of each foot projecting beyond or above and below each leg so that when the anchoring device is in place one end of each foot projects into the socket extension 10 of the socket as will be readily understood.

The anchor 11 is also preferably made of metal having sufiicient resiliency to maintain the feet 14 in approximately constant relation, the normal space between which Will be slightly less than the thickness of the partition 8, so that when the anchor-is attached to the tooth the ribs 15 rwill'b'e forced into the grooves 9 so asto'prevent, the accidental wlthdrawal of the anchor, making 1t. necessary tojprovlde meansvfor holding'parts together for sale or shipment.

The grooves or channels!) are distributed over the Walls of the slots and are of suflicient numbersothat the anchoring device-11 maybe' held in. any of'a number;- of' diiierent positions so that the distance: between the anchorand th'e-incisaledge may be varied according to the requirements of the par ticular* personto whom the teeth are being fitted and in accordance With Saidpersonh bite. The corrugations or ribs-'15 may be one or more in number'andbesides-cooperating'withthe grooves orcl1annels=9"toposition the anchor, also strengthen th'e' l'e'gs of theanchorin the region ofithe' flattenedportions thereof and in practice the said fiat= tened portions are so formed thatitheedge toward the ridge lap? end" oftheitooth' is on an 'an'gleJWhile the otheredgeior'thattoward the mouths or slots 7' communicatingthere- With and thus secure the anchors intheir respective teeth, thereby forming plate having all the. appearances of the ordinary plates in use at the present time;

It from any cause whatsoever a tooth constructed in accordancewith my improvement is broken the same may be further broken or'cut away soas to entirely remove it"from its" anchoralter Whi ch a duplicate tooth. is interchangeable with the original one and may. be placed on the anchor by bringing the open ends of the sockets and the ridge lap into registration with the feet of the anchor and then sliding said tooth to its )ro er oosition'afterivhich the cavities p l a chambersorspaces in the sockets and their communicating slots about the anchorvmay be filled with a suitable cement'indicated'by the numeral16 in Figs. t and 5.

By providingthe tooth with two sockets the' strain" incidentto eating or chewing'is distributedover' a. greaterispace or surface cned alongthe one line and the strainbeing against a very small surface or along'one Wall, such-a 'DOOth 'WIll. often split or break in half along the longitudinal center. Further by making the feet of the anchorso that they are relatively; long: and have: a bearing-"upon" a: considerable surface, the tooth will be prevented fronrwabblinggend-f Wise While the: two feet prevent the tootah from moving sidevviseor-- rotating an'dr as' these movements are prevented it is very unlikely that said tooth Will Work loose.

Of course" I- do not; Wish to be limitedito the exact details of construction as herein shown as these may be varied'within the limits of the appended claims without de parting from the spirit'of 'm'y invention;

Having-- thus any described my" 1113 6112 tion, what "I claim. as new'and useful isw 1. An interchangeable tooth comprising-a body having-a pair ofparallel sockets each having 'a'narrow mouth or slot 'fleadingtherefrom, in the sidewalls of which are' formedhorizontal grooves 01'" channels and an anchor comprising a-loop portion forembedding in a vulcanite plate, a pair of legs flattened to fit the slots and-{having ribs or corrugations to engage the grooves orr channels anda foot at' the en'd' ofeach le iot registration with th'e sockets.

2. A tooth comprising a loop portion-for embedding" in a vulcanite plate; apain of projecting therefrom havingflattened portions one edgeof eaclrof said' flattened portions being straight and in alinement with a portion of the outer circumference of the loop, the other edges beingangular-- or diverging from the straight edge awayrrronr theloop and a foot at'th'e endof ieach-leg:

3. A" tooth anchor comprising 'a loop por tion for embedding in' a vulcanite plate, av pair of legs projecting therefrom having flattened portions, oneedgeof 'ea'ch of said flattened portions being straight: and in alinement with a portion of the outer circumference of the loop, the otheredges be in an ular or diver in fronr the strai ht D b b b D edge {away from'the-top', said flatte-ned por tionshaving-ribs or corrugations and a foot at the end of ear-h leg; th'e 'ends' of each foot projecting. above and be-lOW its respective In" testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

ALBERT n. sMrrn 

